What is the Deal with Ken Dromgool Horsemanship Clinics

River Valley Stables - Working with Horses

What the Girls Thought about Their Two Hour Horse Trek

Lodge to Lodge Horse Trek with River Valley Stables

Why Work With a Young Horse's Feet?

River Valley Stables has a program of breeding its own horses. Horses suited to trekking and having riders on their backs with a diverse range of riding skills.
Young Horses need a great deal of ground work. That is a person working with them to gain their trust, and familiarise them what will come to be expected of them as a working horse.
Here Nicola works with 18 month old Calibre's feet, at River Valley Stables, as she readies him for his first experience with the Farrier.

What is the Deal with Ken Dromgool Horsemanship Clinics

On the first weekend of June 2013, Ken Dromgool, of Dromgool Horsemanship, held his first clinic at the River Valley Stables sand arena, near River Valley Lodge.
We caught up with Ken at the conclusion of the clinic to get his thoughts on how it had gone, what he tries to achieve, and what future participants need to work on.

River Valley Stables - Working with Horses

The basis of the way in which our trekking horses at River Valley Stables, (Taihape, New Zealand) are trained is using natural horsemanship techniques.
Why? Horses trained using these techniques appear to be more forward moving, responsive, quiet, and be much happier.
In this video, Nicola is working with Rico, and putting him through a number of games and patterns. It is not Rico who is doing all the learning, but also Nicola.

What the Girls Thought about Their Two Hour Horse Trek

A group of Scandanavian Girls, all beginner riders, went on a Two Hour Horse Trek over Rangitikei Hill Country with River Valley Stables, Taihape, New Zealand.
What did they think of their Trek?
Watch this video to find out.
If you are interested in a Two Hour Horse Trek with River Valley Stables, go to http://www.rivervalley.co.nz/index.html?Action=DirectoryItem&ID=18477591

Lodge to Lodge Horse Trek with River Valley Stables

River Valley Stables offer a unique trip from January to March each year. This is an overnight Lodge to Lodge horse trek that takes in river crossings on the Rangitikei River, and fantastic views over the Rangitikei Hill country and high country, North Island, New Zealand

Lodge to Sea - Rangitikei River - 160 kms in Three Days

Rangitikei Headwaters Symphony

Rangitikei Rush - Bungy or Swing plus Grade 5 Rafting

72 Rivers, Numerous Countries - Meet John McKee

River Rescue Refresher on the Rangitikei River, NZ

A Pictorial Look at River Valley Rafting History

Lodge to Sea - Rangitikei River - 160 kms in Three Days

This is Part 1 of a series of short videos that chronicle the solo trip Brian Megaw took in April 2012 rowing a cataraft down the Rangitikei River in New Zealand, from River Valley Lodge to the Tasman Sea.
The reason for the trip was for time out, but also to get a feel for what the health of the river was really like.
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All of this footage in this video covers scenery that can be experienced on one of River Valley's multi day rafting trips.

Rangitikei Headwaters Symphony

The Rangitikei is New Zealand's fifth longest river. On it's 240 kilometer journey to the Tasman Sea it flows through a variety of geological strata, and riverside vegetation.
It is a river in a hurry. Only when it gets near to the sea does it really slow down and braid out.
This video is a compilation made from head cam footage taken on a three day private trip in November 2011 on the Headwaters section of this river. Most of the rest of the crew were in catarafts, while I rowed a gear raft.
No matter how many times I visit the Headwaters of the Rangitikei, I am still in awe at the beauty of the scenery, and how pristine the environment is.
River Valley offer four day rafting trips on this beautiful section of the Rangitikei River.

Rangitikei Rush - Bungy or Swing plus Grade 5 Rafting

What do you get when you combine a Grade 5 Wet and Wild Rafting Trip with some of the highest, longest, fastest Bungy or Swing or Giant Flying Fox Rides?
You Get the Rush!
Small towns slide by as you drive State Highway 1, through the central North Island of New Zealand. There is little that really says to you - Get off the Main Road - Go Explore!
The Rangitikei District, situated south of the mighty volcanoes of Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe, is one of those places where the Main Road is best left behind.
An area that is easily driven through, but what surprises there are in store off that Main Highway.
What Is The Rush to Find?
For the adrenaline seeker, this area has Two of the Must Dos of New Zealand.
Two Total Rushes!
The Grade 5 section of the Rangitikei River, which runs the length of this district, is often regarded as one of the top half day, Grade 5 White Water Rafting trips in the world.
Grade 5 is the most exciting white water commercially rafted.
This same river canyon, downstream from the Grade 5 rafting section, is home to the highest bridge bungy jump in New Zealand.
Added to the highest bridge bungy jump, is the Original, the longest, steepest, fastest Giant Flying Fox in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Giant Swing at 80m is often described as the scariest Giant Swing in New Zealand..
Do Both of These in One Day and What Do You Get?

72 Rivers, Numerous Countries - Meet John McKee

John McKee goes rafting in a different country every two years. In the last 25 years he has rafted 72 rivers.
This year was New Zealand's turn, with John rafting most of the favorite rafting runs in this country. How does he rate the Grade 5 section of the Rangitikei River near Taihape on the North Island?
Watch this video to find out.

River Rescue Refresher on the Rangitikei River, NZ

At periodic intervals, River Valley raft guides take to the river with no customers and go through a few essential rescue drills. These are often as much about making sure individual guides can meet the physical challenges of the job as anything else.
This footage was shot on the Rangitikei River, Taihape, New Zealand.

A Pictorial Look at River Valley Rafting History

The pictures in this video slideshow of rafting history at River Valley have been gleaned from boxes in the back of cupboards, off old CDs and other odd places. Many of the pictures were from old prints that have been scanned.
Rafting at River Valley officially started in 1982. A few of these pictures go right back to those years. As we unearth more pictures we will scan those and feature more of the guides who over the years have provided the unique River Valley experience.